Windmill-tower



(No Model.)

' G. B. PU-TNAM.

WINDMILL TOWER.

No. 357,290. Patented Feb..8, 1887.

0B M at I CHARLES B.PUTNHM.

g .3 -toz-ne1,

I UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

CHARLES QPUTNAM, or MARION, IOWA.

WINDMILL-TOWER;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,290, dated February 8, 188']. Application filed November 6, 1886. Serial No. 218.148. (No model.) k

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GHARLEsB. PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marion, in the State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in lVindmill- 'Towers, of which the following is a specificanumerous screw-joints, which involve the use of pipe'tongs by skilled artisans; secondly, to facilitate bracing such structures without obstructing the interior; thirdly, 'to so brace such structures with a single set .of turnbuckles and two sets of brace-rods to three sets of horizontal cross-bars, or, struts, as they are hereinafter termed; fourthly, to attach such horizontal struts to uncut cornerposts by interchangeable corner-irons; fifthly, to facilitate clamping such corner-irons upon said corner-posts; and, sixthly, to securely support the customary platform or gallery immediately below the top of the tower by simple and interchangeable collars.

A sheet of drawings accompanies this specification as part thereof.

Figure let these drawings is an elevation of a windmill-tower illustrating this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of its upper portion. Fig. 3 represents a section on the'line 3 3, Fig. 1, segregating the braces of one side of the tower. Fig. 4c is a perspective view of one of the corner-irons on a larger scale. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section through a corner-iron in the tower on the same scale; and Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views, respectively, of a turn-buckle and a gallery-supporting collar, on said larger scale.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My improved tower comprises corner-posts P of iron tubing, which may be, and preferably are, uncut that is .to say, each of a single length of the tubing and free from drill-holes and the like. These corner-posts are preferably four in number, making the tower square, as represented; but the tower may have only three, or. more than four, sides, if preferred, without affecting the principle of construction herein set forth. Each postis provided with corner-irons I, one of which is shown detached by Fig. 4, and a gallery-supporting collar, 0, Fig. 7, which are clamped thereon at proper heights by set-screws s, and flange-unions F U, are made fast in any approved way, as by screw-joints, spective extremities of each post. Each side of the tower comprises, furthermore, two or more horizontal struts, S S S of tubing of smaller size, preferably three, of graduated lengths, four ormore brace-rods,R R and two or more turn-buckles, T, one of which is shown detached by Fig. 6. Anchors A, of wood or stone, a gallery, B, and a cap, 0, consisting of the base or turn-table of the windmill,with screw-bolts b, uniting said flange-unions F U with said anchors A and with said cap 0, respectively, complete the structure as regards the present invention. Said corner-irons I, turn-buckles T,co1l ars C, and flange-unions F U may be, and are preferably, iron castings, and the rods, screws, and bolts of suitable wrought-iron. Each of said corner-irons I has, as shown in Figs. 4: and 5, a tubular body, .5, fitted internally to that diameter of tubing of which the corner-posts P are made, and a pair of lateral sockets, w, fitted to that diameter of tubing of which the struts S S" S are formed, with a web, w, connecting the shells of the latter, and provided with a pair of drillholes, 1), fitted to the iron of which the rodsR are made, and parallel to said body 2, which is at an angle, relatively to the vertical axis of the tower, determined by the convergence of the corner-posts. A pair of drilled and tapped holes, a, in said body z receive the said set-screws s of the corner-iron, and are substantially in line, respectively, with the axes of said sockets as, but at .right angles to that of the body 2. Each of said rods R, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, is inserted through one of said holes 1; in one of the corner-irons I, and each of said rods B through two diagonally-opposite corner-irons; each has a head,

on the reh, at one end, and its other end, 8, is screwthreaded. These ends 8 are connected by said turn-buckles T, each of which has, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, an internal screw-thread, t, in each end, respectively, right and left, and a central lug, f, by which to turn it. Each of said collars C has, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, a pair of radial spurs, r, and between them a radial drilled and tapped hole, which is fitted with its said set-screw 8. Each of said flangeunions F U has, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, a central socket fitted, as to angle and internal diameter, to either of the corner-posts, and a horizontal body or flange, the latter provided with a pair of vertical bolt-holes fitted to said bolts 1). The details of these flangeunions form no part of my present invention, and these and other mechanical details not particularly specified maybe of any approved character.

The parts having been assembled, as represented by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, and loosely united, with the tower erect in the position which it is to occupy, the lower flange-unions, F, may first be made fast to the anchors A by their bolts 1). The corner-irons I may next be finally adjusted so as to render the successive sets of struts S S S horizontal at the heights for which they are respectively cut, and then tightened upon the posts by their set-screws s. The rods R B may next be put in tension by means of the turn-buckles T, so as to fasten the struts and render the entire structure rigid and secure.

As seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, the rods R R which brace each side of the tower, hang in an inner plane substantially parallel with the plane of its pair of posts P and that of its struts S S S, and close to the latter, so as to leave the interior of the tower wholly unobstructed as regards brace-rods; and, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, a single set of turn-buckles, T, in a single horizontal plane, serves,with two sets of brace-rods, R R", to tighten three sets of struts, S S 8*.

Owing to the construction of said cornerirons I,(best seen in Figs. 4 and 5,) they areinterchangeable throughout the structure, and it may be throughout all towers of a given plan, and they provide for strongly attaching brace-rods and struts to uncut corner-posts, so that the former obviate screw-joints between the corner-irons and struts. The peculiar disposition of the pair of set-screws of each corner-iron utilizes the resistance afforded by its respective companion posts and the interposed struts in tightening the iron upon a post. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) Said interchangeable collars G, fastened upon the uncut corner-posts by their set-screws s, serve not only to support the gallery B from beneath, but by their radial spurs 7' tie the same to the corner-posts. (See Fig. 2.) Said flangeunions F U and their bolts 1), in connection with the uncut corner-posts P, strongly and directly connect the windmill turn-table to the foundations of the tower. (See Fig. 1.)

Having thus described my said improvement in windmill-towers, Iclaim as myinvention and desire to patent under this specification- 1. The combination, substantially as herein specified, of uncut inclined corner-posts and horizontal struts of iron tubing, corner-irons having tubular bodies fitted to said posts, lateral sockets fitted to the ends of said struts and perforated webs connnecting said sockets, brace-rods passing through said webs, and turn-buckles connecting said rods, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as herein specified, of corner-posts, horizontal struts, corner-irons having bodies fitted to said posts, lateral sockets fitted to the ends of said struts and perforated webs connecting said sockets, and a system of brace-rods and turn-buckles, the former passing through said webs in inner planes substantially parallel to those of the respective pairs of posts, for the purpose set forth.

specified, of three or more corner-posts, three sets of corner-irons and horizontal struts, the former having bodies fitted to said posts, sockets fitted to the ends of said struts and perforated webs connecting said sockets, two sets of brace-rods passing through said webs, each: rod having a head at one end, and a single series of turn-buckles connecting said rods in pairs, for the purpose set forth.

4.. The within described interchangeable corner-irons, each constructed with a tubular body, a pair of lateral sockets, and a perforated, Web connecting said sockets, substantially as shown, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with uncut cornerposts and interposed struts, of corner-irons having lateral sockets fitted to the ends of said struts, and tubular bodies fitted to said posts, said bodies being also drilled and tapped and provided with set-screws substantially in line with the respective lateral sockets, substantially as herein specified, for the purpose set forth. N

6. The combination, with uncut cornerposts, of the within-described collars, each havinga pair of radial lugs and a screw-tapped radial hole provided with a set-screw, and a gallery surrounding said posts and supported upon said collars, substantially as herein specified, for the purpose set forth.

0. B. PUTNAM.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. C. HEER, V. B. CARPENTER.

3. The combination, substantially as herein 9 

